We have reviewed attendance rates after 10pm and are confident that this change will have a minimal impact as use of the unit after this time is very small.

Availability of health advice and support

Anyone who needs health advice should contact their GP in the first instance, from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Fridays. Some GPs also offer evening and weekend appointments, provide a minor injury service and an online consultation service called eConsult. Please ask your GP for more details.

NHS 111 or NHS 111 online are available to provide urgent healthcare advice 24 hours a day, including when GP surgeries are closed. Many pharmacists also provide a minor ailment service and provide medication for conditions including skin and nappy rash, sticky eyes, water infections and oral thrush.

Anyone needing emergency help for stroke, heart and chest pain, severe bleeding, or someone who is having difficulty breathing or who is unconsciousness, should call 999.

Stratton Hospital

The hospital will continue to be open as usual, providing inpatient beds to support people close to home on discharge from hospital or to prevent admission to a large acute hospital. During the day, the hospital will continue to provide outpatient clinics.

Why have you made this decision?

The Trust has taken the decision in order to ensure staff are able to work safely and can continue to provide a high quality minor injury service to local people. The temporary reduction in hours ensures we are not asking our staff to work unduly long hours or shifts which would impact both, on their clinical decision making and their health and wellbeing.

As you may be aware from coverage in the media, both nationally and locally there is high demand for qualified nurses and this is impacting on our ability to provide an overnight minor injury service from the hospital in Stratton. We are actively recruiting nurses and working with recruitment agencies in order to fill our vacancies.

We are working with both GP practices, the League of Friends, NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group, the South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust, pharmacies and other local organisations to explore how we could provide a broader range of support for local people.

We would like to apologise for any disruption, but it is essential we act to ensure the quality and safety of our services and staff.